We're creatures undergoing the ceaseless "programming" of pain and/or pleasure. And the lessons we learn trying to keep "pain" at bay, power the whirlwind and keep it spinning in the same direction.
To move in another direction is not possible w/o experiencing pain.
However, I think that moving away from the "vortex" can be very good for a person, help to create art, bring one closer to the true Self.
But being in the "vortex" isn't really pleasure at all. It actually perpetuates anxiety, in my experience.
The anxiety experienced upon exit is different...more "organic", if that makes any sense. It feels like it's somehow natural and will fade with thime.
This "vortex" anxiety is very much more intense and awful. An out of control feeling that hurts greatly and takes me away from mySelf, my art, my tenderness.
For the title of the section, Lewis borrows the terms "Natures" and "Puppets" from Goethe, though the exact roots of these terms in his oeuvre are obscure, to illustrate the two key types of people in the world: the rare people of free thought and independent will and the masses, automata that would prefer to be absolved from the burden of free thought "machines, playing a part."
Lewis argues that the gap between these two types of people is widening and the implications of this increasingly marked polarization is driving the populace of modern states further into subservience to the interests of the ruling class. Lewis develops this position with references that simultaneously support his ideology and place it among key thinkers in the canon. Lewis argues, in a piecemeal and circuitous fashion, that the idea of liberty in the modern political state is an illusory concept used to control the populace. "Liberty", as an all-encompassing abstraction of freedom to do as one wills, does not exist, but rulers have secured power by exploiting the people's desire for this concept. Lewis argues rulers exploit "the will of the greatest number," what he terms "the dogma of What the Public Wants", which is "a simple series of disconnected appetites" predicated on "a luxurious, hypothetical surplus."
This "new system of governmental metaphysic", maintains power by what Lewis calls "The Democratic Educationalist State", a comprehensive method of indoctrination that ushers a person from primary school to the exhausted complacency of adult life where "he is gradually made into a newspaper-reader" rather than a citizen.
This education, augmented by "the hypnotism of cinema, wireless, and press", allows "what we call conventionally the capitalist state [but] is truly an educationalist state" a method of rule "far more effective than subjugation by physical conquest."
According to Lewis, a key part of maintaining this powerful ruse is that people are encouraged "to express their personality." After all, he writes, it is "their privilege to [do so]", and feeling as though they are participating in democratic freedom, people remain calm and refrain from civil disturbances.
These calm citizens are then easily herded via education and the media into complacent group-personalities. They are "drawn into one orbit or another" [into] one of several mechanical socially organized rhythms [of which] [t]here is really less choice every day, and in so doing, it "absolutely standardize[s] him and [rubs] off (in the process of the “expression”) any rough edges that may remain from his untaught, spontaneous days."
The process of expressing this false personality, though devoid of meaning, is persuasive to the individual "that it was the vote of a free man that was being cast, replete with the independence and free-will which was the birthright of a member of a truly democratic community."
In addition to outlining the methods by which rulers retain power over their subjects, Lewis looks into the predisposition of humans to such manipulation. Lewis writes, "The first object of a person with an ambition to be free, and yet possessing none of the means exterior to himself or herself (such as money, conspicuous ability, or power) to obtain freedom, is to avoid responsibility" and submit "to a group-rhythm" that eliminates contention and difficulty from life.
Lewis was ambivalent about the audience for which he intended the book, claiming in the book.s Author.s Preface. that it was .not written for an audience already there. [but] must of necessity make its own audience.
Didn't Nietzsche say something very similar?
-------------------------------
In .The Physics of
the Not-Self. Lewis argues that truth is invariably lost in the relativism of the Self.the
internal existence of a person or the will.
I thought he was arguing that the Not-Self is lost during socialization, but it seems like he's
saying that essential personal truth is lost when one becomes aware of self. I guess I can
see his point.
-------------------------------------------
On one hand, a class is simply a category that a person
identifies with in order to differentiate himself from another, but on the other hand, this
simple categorization is a powerful method of rule in the modern world. .[E]ven if race
were abolished by intermixture,. Lewis points out, .it would still be possible, of course,
to get your class-factor, and with it your organized war, by way of sex, age, occupational
and other categories. The more classes. that you can make [a man] become regularly
conscious of, the more you can control him, the more of an automaton he becomes..23
We're seeing this happen before our eyes. What is so discouraging to me, is that the people who
are being controlled and separated are seldom conscious of what's going on. They only see the
Lewis was ambivalent about the audience for which he intended the book, claiming in the book.s .Author.s Preface. that it was .not written for an audience already there. [but] must of necessity make its own audience.
Didn't Nietzsche say something similar? --------------------
In .The Physics of
the Not-Self. Lewis argues that truth is invariably lost in the relativism of the Self.the
internal existence of a person or the will.
It seems to me that he's saying that personal truth, essential truth, is lost with socialization. I can see this point, but then, it seems like 'internal existence of a person or the will' would be more like individuation, which somewhat counters socialization.
------------------------------
On one hand, a class is simply a category that a person
identifies with in order to differentiate himself from another, but on the other hand, this
simple categorization is a powerful method of rule in the modern world. .[E]ven if race
were abolished by intermixture,. Lewis points out, .it would still be possible, of course,
to get your class-factor, and with it your organized war, by way of sex, age, occupational
and other categories. The more classes. that you can make [a man] become regularly
conscious of, the more you can control him, the more of an automaton he becomes..
We're seeing this happen before our eyes. What is so discouraging to me, is that the people who
are being controlled and separated are seldom conscious of what's going on. They only see the
communist state as the .All-father., an institution that relieves the crushing responsibility of the proletarian patriarch. .The women and children,. Lewis writes, .would be very much relieved if the state would take over their maintenance..
He can't escape his biases.
He confuses me, though, with his support of the "All-Father" and back and forth talk about dissolution of the family. Again, I guess this is proof that nobody can totally escape their upbringing and injuries.
------------------------------------
As far as feminism, he seemed to remain neutral, if not slightly opposed.
But again, why? If the woman is equal with man, wouldn't that take even MORE
pressure off of the 'proletariat patriarch'?
I think you may not understand where I stand with feminism, which wouldn't
Fantastic new mom and pop place off the downtown square that sells local veggies and makes yummy food. I really need to experiment with some new recipes and plant some new stuff next year.
I hate that you feel trapped.
ReplyDeleteWe're all trapped. Most of us just don't realize it until we have that, "A-ha" moment.
ReplyDeleteWe're creatures undergoing the ceaseless "programming" of pain and/or pleasure. And the lessons we learn trying to keep "pain" at bay, power the whirlwind and keep it spinning in the same direction.
ReplyDeleteTo move in another direction is not possible w/o experiencing pain.
Of course.
ReplyDeleteI see it as addiction / avoidance of anxiety.
However, I think that moving away from the "vortex" can be very good for a person, help to create art, bring one closer to the true Self.
But being in the "vortex" isn't really pleasure at all. It actually perpetuates anxiety, in my experience.
The anxiety experienced upon exit is different...more "organic", if that makes any sense. It feels like it's somehow natural and will fade with thime.
This "vortex" anxiety is very much more intense and awful. An out of control feeling that hurts greatly and takes me away from mySelf, my art, my tenderness.
babbling..
For an interesting "take" on the vortex subject, you might enjoy this.
ReplyDeleteOf particular relevance:
ReplyDeleteFor the title of the section, Lewis borrows the terms "Natures" and "Puppets" from Goethe, though the exact roots of these terms in his oeuvre are obscure, to illustrate the two key types of people in the world: the rare people of free thought and independent will and the masses, automata that would prefer to be absolved from the burden of free thought "machines, playing a part."
Lewis argues that the gap between these two types of people is widening and the implications of this increasingly marked polarization is driving the populace of modern states further into subservience to the interests of the ruling class. Lewis develops this position with references that simultaneously support his ideology and place it among key thinkers in the canon. Lewis argues, in a piecemeal and circuitous fashion, that the idea of liberty in the modern political state is an illusory concept used to control the populace. "Liberty", as an all-encompassing abstraction of freedom to do as one wills, does not exist, but rulers have secured power by exploiting the people's desire for this concept. Lewis argues rulers exploit "the will of the greatest number," what he terms "the dogma of What the Public Wants", which is "a simple series of disconnected appetites" predicated on "a luxurious, hypothetical surplus."
This "new system of governmental metaphysic", maintains power by what Lewis calls "The Democratic Educationalist State", a comprehensive method of indoctrination that ushers a person from primary school to the exhausted complacency of adult life where "he is gradually made into a newspaper-reader" rather than a citizen.
This education, augmented by "the hypnotism of cinema, wireless, and press", allows "what we call conventionally the capitalist state [but] is truly an educationalist state" a method of rule "far more effective than subjugation by physical conquest."
According to Lewis, a key part of maintaining this powerful ruse is that people are encouraged "to express their personality." After all, he writes, it is "their privilege to [do so]", and feeling as though they are participating in democratic freedom, people remain calm and refrain from civil disturbances.
These calm citizens are then easily herded via education and the media into complacent group-personalities. They are "drawn into one orbit or another" [into] one of several mechanical socially organized rhythms [of which] [t]here is really less choice every day, and in so doing, it "absolutely standardize[s] him and [rubs] off (in the process of the “expression”) any rough edges that may remain from his untaught, spontaneous days."
The process of expressing this false personality, though devoid of meaning, is persuasive to the individual "that it was the vote of a free man that was being cast, replete with the independence and free-will which was the birthright of a member of a truly democratic community."
In addition to outlining the methods by which rulers retain power over their subjects, Lewis looks into the predisposition of humans to such manipulation. Lewis writes, "The first object of a person with an ambition to be free, and yet possessing none of the means exterior to himself or herself (such as money, conspicuous ability, or power) to obtain freedom, is to avoid responsibility" and submit "to a group-rhythm" that eliminates contention and difficulty from life.
Bookmarked it. It may take me a while to digest.
ReplyDeleteYou'll love his take on feminism... ;-)
ReplyDeleteLewis was ambivalent about the audience for which he intended the book, claiming in the book.s Author.s Preface. that it was .not written for an audience already there. [but] must of necessity make its own audience.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Nietzsche say something very similar?
-------------------------------
In .The Physics of
the Not-Self. Lewis argues that truth is invariably lost in the relativism of the Self.the
internal existence of a person or the will.
I thought he was arguing that the Not-Self is lost during socialization, but it seems like he's
saying that essential personal truth is lost when one becomes aware of self. I guess I can
see his point.
-------------------------------------------
On one hand, a class is simply a category that a person
identifies with in order to differentiate himself from another, but on the other hand, this
simple categorization is a powerful method of rule in the modern world. .[E]ven if race
were abolished by intermixture,. Lewis points out, .it would still be possible, of course,
to get your class-factor, and with it your organized war, by way of sex, age, occupational
and other categories. The more classes. that you can make [a man] become regularly
conscious of, the more you can control him, the more of an automaton he becomes..23
We're seeing this happen before our eyes. What is so discouraging to me, is that the people who
are being controlled and separated are seldom conscious of what's going on. They only see the
other class as the enemy.
---------------------------------------------------
Lewis characterizes Marx.s vision of the
communist state as the .All-father., an institution that relieves the crushing responsibility
of the proletarian patriarch.35 .The women and children,. Lewis writes, .would be very
much relieved if the state would take over their maintenance..36
He can't escape his biases.
He confuses me, though, with his support of the "All-Father" and back and forth talk about dissolution of the
family. Again, I guess this is proof that nobody can totally escape their upbringing and injuries.
------------------------------------
As far as feminism, he seemed to remain neutral, if not slightly opposed.
But again, why? If the woman is equal with man, wouldn't that take even MORE
pressure off of the 'proletariat patriarch'?
I think you may not understand where I stand with feminism, and I wouldn't be
surprised because I barely understand.
I posted this earlier...did it not post?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, here it is again.
Lewis was ambivalent about the audience for which he intended the book, claiming in the book.s .Author.s Preface. that it was .not written for an audience already there. [but] must of necessity make its own audience.
Didn't Nietzsche say something similar?
--------------------
In .The Physics of
the Not-Self. Lewis argues that truth is invariably lost in the relativism of the Self.the
internal existence of a person or the will.
It seems to me that he's saying that personal truth, essential truth, is lost with socialization. I can see this point, but then, it seems like 'internal existence of a person or the will' would be more like individuation, which somewhat counters socialization.
------------------------------
On one hand, a class is simply a category that a person
identifies with in order to differentiate himself from another, but on the other hand, this
simple categorization is a powerful method of rule in the modern world. .[E]ven if race
were abolished by intermixture,. Lewis points out, .it would still be possible, of course,
to get your class-factor, and with it your organized war, by way of sex, age, occupational
and other categories. The more classes. that you can make [a man] become regularly
conscious of, the more you can control him, the more of an automaton he becomes..
We're seeing this happen before our eyes. What is so discouraging to me, is that the people who
are being controlled and separated are seldom conscious of what's going on. They only see the
other class as the enemy.
---------------------------------------------------
Lewis characterizes Marx.s vision of the
communist state as the .All-father., an institution that relieves the crushing responsibility of the proletarian patriarch.
.The women and children,. Lewis writes, .would be very
much relieved if the state would take over their maintenance..
He can't escape his biases.
He confuses me, though, with his support of the "All-Father" and back and forth talk about dissolution of the family. Again, I guess this is proof that nobody can totally escape their upbringing and injuries.
------------------------------------
As far as feminism, he seemed to remain neutral, if not slightly opposed.
But again, why? If the woman is equal with man, wouldn't that take even MORE
pressure off of the 'proletariat patriarch'?
I think you may not understand where I stand with feminism, which wouldn't
surprise me, considering I barely understand. :-)
wtf? why do you keep deleting my comment?
ReplyDeletewhy do I even ask... :(
I didn't delete anything. :(
ReplyDeleteI just turned off "word verification." Maybe that will help.
ReplyDeleteI saw it publish twice.
ReplyDeletewhatever.
I had a great grilled tomato and aoli sandwich today, so it's all good.
Sounds like a good "summer" meal... you've got to take advantage of the tomatoes while you can.
ReplyDeleteFantastic new mom and pop place off the downtown square that sells local veggies and makes yummy food. I really need to experiment with some new recipes and plant some new stuff next year.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan. Out tomatoes are still producing, but it has most definitely slowed down due to cooler weather.
ReplyDelete